JIM DRYDEN | ILLUSTRATION

These are a few recent projects. They have a fresh, graphic look while retaining the feel of my painterly style.

A few of many food and wine pieces I have created for a wide variety of clients including Wine spectator Magazine, Millennium Hotels and Resorts, and Marriott Hotels.

As an artist, this may be as close as I ever come to the world of high finance, but I have been honored to depict it's ins, outs, ups and downs by prestigious firms such as Paine-Webber, and publications like The Wall Street Journal, and Investment News.

Coming from my own background in music, theatre, and art, it is always a pleasure to create imagery which relates to these disciplines. I have been inspired by working on projects for the Kennedy Center for the Arts Millennium Stage, the Chicago Jazz and Blues Festival, a unique concert by Aretha Franklin at Madison Square Garden, the cover of Symphony Magazine, and artwork for many other cultural institutions and events.

Of interest and concern to us all - the well-being of others and of ourselves. I've been fortunate to learn much in my research making illustrations which convey these sometimes, complex, abstract ideas.
My understanding has been enriched through depicting everything from proactive practices we can use in our everyday lives for Lavender Magazine, to pictures depicting doctor patient relationships for the University of Minnesota, and imagery about how to best care for our loved ones in their final moments for Blue Cross & Blue Shield.

A life-long interest in math and the sciences has provided me with an area of rich inquiry and interesting creative challenges. Whether studying the digital, 3D model of a protein molecule to accurately depict the subtle twists of it's strands for a client like R&D Systems Research, creating the key imagery for a ten-year nationally touring exhibition for the Science Museum of Minnesota, or simply exploring the laws of physics that define our universe - gravity, inertia, momentum, etc.
I am always curious about the world around me.

A love of travel inspires my art. Colors, patterns, the "light" of many places fill my work. I respond to the rich diversity of the world's cultural traditions. Capturing the atmosphere of an Italian villa in Umbria, the ambiance of San Antonio's famed Riverwalk for the San Antonio Tourism Council, or the patois of the French Quarter for the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce. I'm always ready for my next adventure.

One of my most interesting and challenging editorial projects was a piece for Colgate University's Scene Magazine dealing with one of their professor's experiences as a UN representative during the genocide in Rwanda.. The article was explicit and searing. 
I asked how they would like me to approach this sensitive topic and the art director replied, "don't hold back."

Another assignment from the same client involved incidents of racist graffiti appearing on campus and how the University was trying to address the problem by encouraging dialogue and open communication.

One of the most enjoyable projects I have worked on was the rebranding of the Minneapolis Foundation - the oldest philanthropic organization in Minnesota. The purpose was to update the image of an older, established institution to better compete with new online fund-raising organizations. The agency handling the project commissioned me to create a piece of key artwork as the basis for the new image. This was the beginning of a successful, long-term relationship during which I created a collection of new imagery every few years which was used for everything from billboards to corporate reports.
Other projects have included an artistic interpretation of Reader's Digest's Pegasus logo in celebration of their 75th anniversary and an institutional poster for the Target READ program.

An issue that becomes more pressing everyday. What can we do to reduce our impact on the planet we live on?

When you are ready to kick back and relax - float in the pool, sip a martini. and Indulge yourself in a few of life's pleasures.

Some things we do simply because it is the right thing to do. We must all lend our talents to making this world a better, safer, more abundant place for everyone.
To quote one of my heroes,
the late Senator Paul Wellstone:
"We all do better, when we all do better."
Among the causes I care about and have contributed my artwork to are the American Breast Cancer Foundation, American Red Cross, Art 4 Shelter, Caring and Sharing Hands, Covenant House NYC, Minnesota Aids Project, Rainbow Families, and many others.